Wireless remote device management utilizing mesh topology

Abstract

Disclosed is an end-to-end wireless solution for accessing, monitoring, and controlling remote devices, such as critical server systems, utilizing a mesh topology scheme via a short range, high throughput wireless connection. The present invention provides superior propagation in a multi-path environment as well as a low-power, non-intrusive solution to remotely access and control of a variety of devices. Further, the present invention enables portable management of the remote devices connected within the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for providing wireless monitoring and control of remote devices, said system comprising:
 at least one user station device coupled to a keyboard, a video monitor and a cursor control device, said user station device having circuitry for receiving signals from said keyboard and said cursor control device; 
 a plurality of transceivers each comprising a wireless communications device; 
 at least one access point for communicating with said plurality of transceivers; and 
 a network management server in bi-directional communication with said at least one access point and said at least one user station, said network management server having embedded software for the determination and management of quality of service; 
 wherein the embedded software control of the quality of service minimizes the end-to-end latency of signals and guarantees a throughput level in the system; 
 wherein said user station bi-directionally communicates keyboard and cursor control device information with said remote device; 
 wherein each of said transceivers is coupled to at least one of said remote devices for receiving and converting video data from said remote devices and for unidirectionally transmitting said video data over a wireless network to said at least one user station utilizing a mesh topology; 
 wherein each of said transceivers contain a memory unit for storing identification information of the transceiver and identification information of the coupled remote device; 
 wherein said transceiver is configured to transmit the identification information over the wireless network to the user station device; and 
 wherein said wireless network is an ultra-wide band wireless standard network. 
 
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said remote device is a server. 
     
     
       3. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said video data is compressed before being transmitted by said wireless communications device. 
     
     
       4. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said video data, said keyboard data, and said cursor control device data are encrypted before being transmitted by said wireless communications devices over said wireless network. 
     
     
       5. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said network management server comprises a network power over Ethernet hub. 
     
     
       6. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is powered by said remote device. 
     
     
       7. A system for monitoring and control of remote devices utilizing a mesh topology, said system comprising:
 at least one portable user station; 
 a plurality of transceivers for physically interfacing with a plurality of remote devices, each said transceiver comprising a conversion circuit for receiving and converting video data from one of said remote devices and a memory unit for storing identification information related to the transceiver and the coupled remote device; 
 a transmission circuit disposed between said transceiver and said portable user station for transmitting said video data over a wireless network from said transceiver to said portable user station utilizing a mesh topology; and 
 a receiving circuit connected to said portable user station for receiving said transmitted video data over said wireless network; 
 wherein the plurality of transceivers broadcast an identification message containing the identification information and the portable user station enters a inquiry state when the portable user station is within range of at least one of the plurality of transceivers; 
 wherein said portable user station displays a list of said remote devices based on the identification information contained in the identification message; 
 wherein said portable user station is configured to transmit a connection request for connecting to one of said remote devices on the list of devices to one of the transceivers that physically interfaces with the one remote device via a wireless communication path between said portable user station and the one transceiver, and the one transceiver is configured to broadcast a denial message when the one remote device is connected to another portable user station; 
 wherein said list is automatically updated by said portable user station when each of said remote devices becomes within range of said portable user station; 
 wherein said portable user station determines and manages the quality of service in order to minimize the end-to-end latency of signals and guarantee a throughput level in the system. 
 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said user station transmits a connection request message to one of said plurality of transceivers in response to a user's selection from said list. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said list includes information related to said remote devices. 
     
     
       10. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said video data is compressed before being transmitted over said wireless network. 
     
     
       11. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said video data is encrypted before being transmitted by said transmission circuit over said wireless network. 
     
     
       12. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said receiving circuit receives keyboard and cursor control device data from said user station. 
     
     
       13. A system according to  claim 12 , wherein said keyboard data and said cursor control device data are encrypted and transmitted to said remote device over said wireless network. 
     
     
       14. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said wireless network is an ultra wide band wireless standard network. 
     
     
       15. A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said transceiver is powered by said remote device. 
     
     
       16. A method of wirelessly transmitting keyboard signals, cursor control device signals and compressed video signals between at least one portable user station and a select remote device utilizing a mesh topology, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing remote device identification information; 
 broadcasting remote device identification information and a remote device available message; 
 receiving the remote device identification information and the remote device available message on the portable user station; 
 displaying a menu of available remote devices on a video display of the portable user station; 
 updating said menu of available remote devices via a wireless network; 
 receiving a user request to select one of said available remote devices; 
 transmitting a connection request message from said portable user station to said selected remote device over said wireless network via a wireless communication path between said portable user station and said selected remote device, in response to said user request; 
 determining whether the selected remote device is connected to another portable user station; 
 transmitting a denial message to said portable user station when said selected remote device is connected to the other portable user station; and 
 transmitting an acknowledgement message to said portable user station when said selected remote device is not connected to the other portable user station. 
 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said wireless network is an ultra-wide band wireless standard network. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said video data is compressed by a transceiver coupled to said remote device before said transmission to said portable user station occurs. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said video data, said keyboard data, and said cursor control device data are encrypted before between transmitted over said wireless network. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said selected remote device is not connected to the other portable user station, further comprising the steps of:
 transmitting video signals from said selected remote device to said portable user station over said wireless network; 
 transmitting keyboard and cursor control device signals from a keyboard and cursor control device of said portable user station to said selected remote device over said wireless network; 
 determining the quality of service utilizing embedded software; and 
 minimizing the latency of video signals and keyboard and cursor control device signals to guarantee a level of throughput.